Recovery from a knee operation can look different for everyone, but for Ray Hancock it meant months of immobility and, for even longer, an inability to climb stairs or walk any distance.
In fact, since early 2025, he’s been confined to the downstairs of his home, sleeping in his living room.
Despite spending 22 years with Warwickshire FRS and supporting Fire Fighters Charity through monthly donations, Ray never considered reaching out for help. He assumed the support was only for injuries or illnesses.
After speaking with our Welfare team, he discovered we offer support in accessing grants for home adaptations too – and has since been supported in having a stairlift fitted; finally giving him his home back.
“It’s so nice to know Fire Fighters Charity is here for all of us. I’d always donated to the charity, but never realised it provided this kind of support,” Ray says.
“I lost my wife, Agnes, last year too, which has been really hard. Luckily, I have the dogs and a couple of little hobbies, and Agnes’ daughter is my best mate now. She does so much for me. Knowing the charity is there for me too is fantastic.”
Ray said he’d always had challenges with his legs since his time in the fire service, which he mostly put down to wear and tear. However, they became particularly painful two years ago and led to a double knee operation.
“I was in hospital for five or six weeks and they’ve been really weak since then, which has impacted how mobile I am. I haven’t been able to climb my stairs since,” he says.
“I was told the shower room I’d been using wasn’t safe for me, because I had to step into it, then someone suggested Fire Fighters Charity to me. I had no idea they could support with something like this – I’ve been telling everyone since!
“I’d actually just had a bathroom re-fitted upstairs before my operation, but I couldn’t use it because I couldn’t get upstairs.
“Someone from the charity visited me at home soon after I contacted them, lovely bloke, and he had a look at everything and said he’d be in touch soon with any ways they could support me.”
Ray says he was prepared to pay what he could towards a stairlift, but the financial side was a serious concern. He was delighted, therefore, when our welfare team carried out a financial assessment and told him they may be able to access some funding to help towards the costs.
“Having the stairlift now has completely changed my living situation”
Ray Hancock
Fire Fighters Charity applied for a grant from Lyme Green Trust, which provides grants to people with severe disabilities who have served the country in the Emergency Services. They accepted our application and generously funded the entire lift.
Lyme Green Trust has since awarded us grants to help other service users and we are extremely grateful for their continued support.
“When I was told it could be fully funded, I was over the moon. I couldn’t believe it, it was fantastic,” says Ray.
The fitting was carried out by Handi Care – arranged through Age UK – so Ray didn’t have to pay towards that either, putting his mind at rest.
“Having the stairlift now has completely changed my living situation, I have double the space accessible again and two bedrooms with a proper bathroom. I can’t thank them enough.”
If you feel you’d benefit from our health and wellbeing support, you can call our Support Line on 0800 389 8820, make an enquiry online or click below: